Lubrication system control valve



Aug. 28, 1945. R 2,383,878

I LUBRICATION SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE Original Filed July 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l F'IGUR E l.

FIGURE 2 INVENTOR LESLIE T. MILLER BY 6w WIA- mTTOR EY Aug. 28, 1945. MlLLER 2,383,378

LUB RICATION SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE Original Filed July 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 3.

LINVENTOR LESLIE T MILLER Aug. 28, 1945. L. T. MlLLER 2,383,878

LUBRICATION SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE Original Filed July 16, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGURE 4.

INVENTOR. LESLIE T MILLER Aug. 28, 1945. g T. MILLER 2,388,878

I I LUBRICATION SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE- Original Filed July 16, 1941 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGURE 6 f FIGURE 7. FIGURE 8 HF I36 INVENTOR LESLJE T. MILLER Patented Aug. 28, 1 945 LUBRICATION SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE Leslie T. Miller, Stoneieigh, Md., assignor to The Glen L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland Original application July 16, 1941, Serial No.

402,569, now Patent No. 2,311,069, dated February 16, 1943. Divided and this application October 3, 1942, Serial No. 460,641

4 Claims. (Cl. 236-34) This invention relates to the features, construction and function of a lubricant and diluent control valve, and is a division of application Serial Number 402,569, filed July 16, 1941, now Patent Number, 2,311,069 issued February 16,

It is well known that the usual lubricating oils thicken when cooled, and therefore do not provide proper lubrication. The introduction of a lighter, less viscous lubricant during periods of starting, when the engine is cold, has been suggested. However, no satisfactory arrangement for introducing the diluting lubricant into the system has been provided.

The present invention is particularly applicable to a system which includes an oil cooler and an oil tank having a'warm-up compartment. It has been found that in the usual system, the forcing of cold oil through the oil cooler reduces the efficiency of the pump and is likely to damage the oil cooler.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple yet efi'ective construction for ensuring proper lubrication of the engine at all temperatures, while'reducing the pressures required and avoiding damage to the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means for introducing a diluent, upon starting or just before stopping the engine, into the oil in a lubricating system, in such amanner as to ensure its proper distribution through, and thorough admixture with, at least that portion of the oil which will be used for lubrication, upon the next cold starting of the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to cause the oil to fiow directly to the warm-up compartment, regardless. of the temperature of the lubricant and at the same time add a diluent so that a quantity of low viscosity lubricant may be provided for the next cold starting of the engine.

A further object of the invention is to produce an arrangement of this type which avoids the flow of cold oil through the oil cooler so as to prevent damage thereto. More particularly, means are furnished for by-passing the oil cooler when so desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve arrangement for automatically permitting the flow of diluent when oil is being bypassed around the .oil cooler, this valve closing ofi the diluent when -the normal flow through the oil cooler isreestablished.

An additional object of the invention is to to control valve is used.

arrange an electrical control for simultaneously by-passing the oil cooler and admitting a diluent to the system.

Still a. further object of the invention is to provide both a manual means, operable at will, and an automatic means, responsive to the temperature of the oil, for regulating the by-passing and the diluent introduction.

Further advantages and other objects will become apparent from the description of the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure and in which-dike numerals refer to like parts. g

In-the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates the system with which the Figure 21s a circuit diagram of the connections for manual and thermostatic operation of the solenoid valve.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the con.- trol valve illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified-form of the lubrication system embodying a solenoid operated valve.

Figure 5is a cross-sectional view through the control valve.

Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of the solenoid and control circuit.

Figures '7 and 8 are sectional views of the right and left ends respectively of the valve shown in Figure 5.

The lubricating system shown in Figure 1, comprises an engine 2, a control valve 66, an oil cooler 20, and an oil reservoir 10 having a warm up compartment I4. Supply line 9 conducts oil from the base of the reservoir to pump 8 and then through conduit 4 to the engine. Return line 6 conducts oil to the control valve 66 which directs the oil through line 14 or through line l6 and the oil cooler 20. Pipe 32 is shown conducting diluent to the control valve.

The valve 66 is shown in detail in Figure 3. It has an oil inlet 68 for connecting to engine oil outlet 6; a normal oil outlet 10 connected by line Hi to oil cooler 20; and a second oil outlet 12 connected by line H to tank 10. Inlet 68 leads into a cylindrical chamber 16 which has two rings of ports or ring ports connected to outlets 10 and 12 respectively. A sleeve I8 slidable in the cylinder can cover one or the other of these sets of ports.

In the top of the chamber 16 is a diluent inlet connected to pipe 32. This is controlled by a conical valve portion 82 on a rod 84 which is connected to sleeve I8. A coil spring 85 normally holds sleeve I8 in its lower'position, so as to close outlet I2. Rod 84 is connected to the core 88 of a solenoid 80, so as to raise the rod when the solenoid is energized.

Arranged in the oil inlet 68 is a thermostat 92 which is connected to solenoid 90 by the circuit shown in Figure 2. A manual switch 84 is also provided in this circuit.

The operation is as follows: Normally, oil flows from the engine to inlet 68 and through outlet 10 to the oil 'cooler. If the oil is too cold, however, thermostat 92 is closed and energizes solenoid 80'. This raises rod 84 and moves sleeve I8 up to close the ports to normal outlet I and open them to by-pass outlet I2. At the same time, valve 82 is raised and permits the diluent to enter through inlet 80. Thus the oil is simultaneously diluted and passed around the oil cooler. Before stopping the engine, the introduction of diluent may be obtained by closing manual switch 94.

Figure 4 shows a. circuit using an oil cooler of the conventional type having a core section and a jacket section, in the latter section only limited cooling takes place. The oil may be directed through the jacket section only, for limited ,cooling or through both the Jacket and core, which afiords maximum cooling. This modification of the system utilizes the valve 85 shown in Figures 5, '7 and 8. This valve has inlets 85 for connection to the engine oil outlet 6; 88, I08 for connection to the jacket and core respectively Q of oil cooler 58 by pipes I02, I04 respectively; I08,

for connection to diluent supply pipe 82; and I08 for a by-pass IIO; as well as outlets II2 leading by pipe II4 to oil cooler 58; 8 leading to by-pass I I0; and H8 leading to oil tank I0 by pipe I20.

Within the-valve is a body I22 mounted to turn. This is shorter than the casing so as to provide chambers I24, I26 at the ends. Passages I28, I30 are provided in opposite ends to provide connections to outlet H6 and inlet I08 respectively. Passage I82 connects with outlet II 2, while passages I34, I86 can connect with inlet 88, I00 respectively.

A depending chamber I38 near outlet II8 contains two solenoid coils I40, I42 each adapted to A manual switch I58 for selectively energizing -coils I40, I42 may also be provided.

This device operates in the following manner:

Normally, oil from the engine will flow from the engine to chamber I24, passage I82, pipe II4, jacket and core of oil cooler 58, pipe I04, passage I36, chamber I26 and outlet II8 to tank I8. Ii, however, the'engine is cold, thermostat I55 will close the lower contact I60 and will energize both coils I40, .I42. This will pull core I44 fully down and through link I50 will turn valve body I22 to the position shown in the drawings. Oil will thenflow through chamber I24. passage I28, by-pass IIO, passage I30 and chamber I25 to outlet II8. At the same time. valve surface I44 will be moved down to open the diluent inlet I85, sons to permit the diluent to enter and mix with the lubricant.

As the oil warms up, thermostat I58 moves to the upper contact I52 and energizes only coil I42. This permits partial upward movement oi core I44, which turns valve I22 to an intermediate position in which passage I84 communicates with inlet 88. Oil then flows through the jacket only of the oil cooler.

While I have described herein some embodiments 01 my invention 1 wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve for directing the flow of lubricant in a lubricating system comprising a housing having oil inlet port means and a plurality of oil outlet port means, a flow control valve mount- 7 ed in' said housing adjacent said outlet port means so that movement or said valve opens one outlet port at a time, valve actuating means including a solenoid to move the valve in a predetermined manner to direct the flow of lubricant from the oil outlet port means, a now control valve mounted in said housing adjacent said outlet port means so that movement of said-valve opens one outlet port at a time, valve actuating means to move the valve in a predetermined manner to direct the flow oi lubricant from the inlet port to one of the outlet ports and including a, secondary separate valve structure in said housing through which diluent is introduced into the flow oi lubricant through said housing, so that when the flow control valve directs oil through one outlet port, the diluent valve is closed and when said first valve moves to direct the flow of oil through a second outlet port, the diluent valve is opened..

3. A valve for directing the flow of lubricant in a lubricating system comprising a housing having oil inlet port means and a plurality of oil outlet port means, a rotary flow control valve mounted in said housing adjacent said outlet port means so that movement oi said valve opens one outlet port at a time, thermally responsive valve actuating means to move the valve in a predetermined manner to direct the flow of lubricant from the inlet port to one of the outlet ports-and including a secondary separate valve structure in said housing through which diluent is introduced into the flow of lubricant through said housing, so that when the rotary flow control valve directs oil through one "outlet port, the diluent valve is closed and when said rotary valve moves to direct the flow of oil'through a second outlet port, the diluent valve is opened.

4. A valve for directing the now of lubricant in a lubricating system comprising a housing having oil inlet port means and a plurality 01' oil outlet port means, an axially slidable flow control valve mounted in said housing adjacent said outlet port means so that movement oi said valve opens one outlet port at a time, thermally responsive valve actuating means to move the valve in a predetermined manner to direct the flow of lubricant from the inlet port to one of the outlet ports and including a secondary separate valve structure in said housing through which diluent is introduced into the flow of lubricant through said housing, so that when said flow control valve directs oil through one outlet port, the diluent valve is closed and when said axially slidable valve moves to direct the flow of oil through a second outlet port, the diluent valve is opened.

LESLIE '1'. MILLER. 

